Owensboro Forum

Ten candidates in the Governors race will be on the ticket during the May primaries, including current Governor Ernie Fletcher. Fletcher, however, couldnt be found at a forum in Owensboro Friday... hosted by the Kentucky Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials. Four of ten candidates running in the 2008 Governors race, were represented at the forum, but only one actually showed up. Each were given two minutes to address a handful of submitted questions, one of the first dealt with how to reduce the number of un-insured Kentuckians. The Beshear-Mongiardo camp wants to change the health care delivery system while Heather French-Henry, representing her husband Steve Henry, said re-distribution of groups like veterans would free up healthcare funding. But if the state falls short on cash, where would the money for healthcare come from? Bruce Lunsford says he has a four-point program, but didnt give much detail about it, while Doctor Dan Mongiardo, running on Steve Beshears ticket said there likely wouldnt be a shortfall if gaming were expanded into Kentucky. Representatives for candidates Gatewood Gailbraith and Billy Harper didnt say much on their candidates behalf, but Henry, Beshear and Lunsford had very strong opinions on the issues, like equality in health coverage. The one question of the candidates did answer, was why they or their candidate wanted to be Governor. While their answers varied somewhat, all encompassed the goal to move Kentucky forward in a positive direction. Kentuckys primary election is scheduled for May 22nd.